Theatrical scenic apparatus.



No. 817,577. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

' G. A. MILLER.

THBATRIGAL SCENIC APPARATUS. APPLICATION rmzn JUNE 24,1905.

3 SEEETS-BHBET l.

WITNESSES:

@7%MW WJM No. 817,577. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906. G. A. MILLER.

THEATRIGAL SCENIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24.1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WQTKU WITNESSES.

W/Aot PATENTED APR.10, 1906.

G; A. MILLER. THEATRIGAL SCENIC APPARATU APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES.

UNITE STATES PATENT @EETGE.

THEATRICAL SCENIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed June 24, 1905. Serial No. 266,903.

To mil 11/71/0797 it nuty cmtcern:

Be it known that I, GUsTAv A. MILLER, residing at \Vichita, in thecounty of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, have invented a new and ImprovedTheatrical Scenic Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is in the nature of an improved theatrical scenic apparatusor peepshow of that character in which one or more scenic effects orplays can be viewed while the patron is carried along in such a mannerthat a number of different shows or scenic effects can be readily viewedduring one complete trip of the patrons or audience and my inventionseeks to provide an improvement of the character stated which can beeconomically put up and which will be found especially desirable atseaside or other summer resorts or as a permanent exhibit.

In itsgeneral nature my invention comprehends an improved arrangement ofa plurality of scenic effects or stages arranged one above the other, anendless curtain that incloses the stages and which has designed thereonscenic representations and is at intervals provided with sight-openingsthrough which scenic effects or performances on the several stages maybe readily observed, combined with a means for seating the audience andelevating them, so that they can be brought into position to view thescenic effects or performances in the several stages, and which alsoserves to lower them to a point of exit.

My invention also embodies novel arrangement of scenic representation,including two entrances to a double elevator in which the audiences seatthemselves to view the scene and their shows, so arranged that as oneset of patrons passes down to the point of exit, reviewing the sceniceffects or shows disposed before them, another set is passing up,viewing another set of stage and scenic eflects; and in its moresubordinate features my invention consists in certain details of construction and peculiar combination of parts, all of which will behereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view which illustrates the external appearance of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the double set of stage andscenic mechanisms combined with the audience-holding elevators and theoperating mechanisms for the several parts. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section onthe line 4 4 on Fig. 3.

In the practical application of my invention I provide a scenic efiectin the nature of a building having a theater appearance mounted upon arocky or rugged bluff, to which access is had by rustic paths that leadto two doorways in the front of the theater and below which are twodoorways, indicat ing underground-passages and which in my arrangementform the exits to the scenic or show house, while the upper doors formthe entrance, and in practice the said. building, the rustic scenery,the paths, &c., may be gotten up in the manner of ordinary scenic formsor structures, or when the exhibit is to be of a permanent nature may beconstructed as a solid or completed structure.

The scenic displays or shows in my invention are in duplicate, so thattwo sets of patrons can be viewing each one set of scenic and stageeffects as they move upwardly in the elevator-holding compartment, whilethe other set of patrons descend, and for such purposes theaudience-holding means is located between the two sets of scenic andstage shows and the elevators suspended to counterbalance. In itsdetails of structure the two scenic or stage shows each consists of arectangular framing comprising the end uprights a a b b, thecross-timbers aa b b, and the stationary or bottom stages or platforms 88 Since the construction of the two sets of stage and scenic shows(designated A and B) are precisely alike and operate the same, I shalldescribe only one set of such device in detail.

At the upper and the lower ends of the frame B are mounted thetransversely-disposed curtain-rollers b 11 over which passes an endlesscurtain 5 5, on which is painted or otherwise delineated scenicrepresentations, and this curtain passes under the bottom platform 8 andover the movable stage 7, and it has a number of horizontalsight-openings 6, through which the scenic or other displays in thestationary platform or stage 8 and the vertically-movable stage can beseen.

The supporting-frame for the elevators (designated C) is located betweenthe two sets of scenic and stage-framings A and B, and it consists ofthe front and rear uprights 12 12, which extend above the show-frames Aand B and are braced at the top by the cross-timbers 12 12, upon whichtwo sets of elevator- LOO pulleys 1O 10 are journaled, over which passthe cables 9 9, which are connected at their ends to the twoelevator-cages C C and which are relatively so mounted and the cablesare of such length that as the cage C ascends the cage C descends, andvice versa. Any suitable means may be provided for elevating the cages Cand C-for example, bypassing the cables one or more laps about thecentrallydisposed drive-sheaves 0 mounted on a driveshaft 5, as shown.The cages C C at their front end have doors 0 0 which. when the cagesreach the uppermost position are in alinement with the entrance to thetheater and when at their lowermost position are in alinement with theunderground exits. The seats in the elevator-cages run lengthwisethereof and face outwardly toward the shows A and B, and for suchpurpose that side of the cages next the shows are open and preferablyglazed. The movable stages 7 7 are suspended on cables 7 7 that pass upand over pulleys 7 0 7 connected with a single cable 0 that passes downthrough openings in the stages 7 and S and then outwardly under thestage 8*, over guid e-pulleys, to a Winding-shaft 1, having a crank orother means for turning it. The endless curtains 5 are driven byroller-shafts 2, mounted on the outer end of the show-frames A and B,and is also provided with a crank or other means for turning it.

So far as described the general arrangement, the manner of operation,and the advantages of my invention, it is believed, will be apparent.

It will be noticed that by having the endless curtains with sceniceltect the audience in the cages, which can be sustained at any desiredheight, can view the scenic effects in the curtain 5 as it travels pastthe open side of the cage when the cage is lowered in line with one ofthe openings 6. Assuming such opening to be in line above the top stage7 a performance in miniature or in reality can be viewed on the stage 7,and afterthis performance is complete a further drop of the cage andshifting of the curtain 5 to bring its opening 6 to a point above thestage 8 another performance or scenic pantomine, marionettes or real, onstage 8 can be viewed, after which the cage can be lowered and theoccupants leave through the underground exits.

My invention While simple and capable of being economically constructedcan be put up either in a knockdown or permanent shape. When of theknockdown type, the house, mountain, and path effects may be readilymade by painting on a curtain or other flexible material or paper thatcan be either folded or shaped over the internal mechanism, and sincethe elevator portion of the mechanism is the only part that has tosustain weight the two side show-frames when utilized for marionette,mimic, or simple scenic effects can be made up of very light framework,it being understood that when live performers are to appear on thestages the structure is built accordingly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. As an improvement in scenic theaters,

the following elements in combination: a permanent stage, avertically-adjustable stage, located above the permanent stage, meansfor raising or lowering the adjustable stage, an endless curtain thatpasses over the fronts of said stages and covers them, said curtainshaving scenic displays thereon and formed with horizontally-extendedopenings, means for actuating the endless curtains, an elevator-cage,said cage having an end entrance and one side open, means for sustainingsaid elevator-cage in front of the endless curtain and moving itvertically over the said curtain and an external body that covers theactuating parts having the representation of a house provided with aningress-door located at the highest point of movement of the cage, andan outlet-door located at the lowest point of the cage, all beingarranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

2. The hereinbefore described improvement in scenic theaters, comprisingthe following elements in combination, a plurality of permanent stages,a plurality of verticallyadjustable stages, over the permanent stages,means for adjusting the movable stages, an endless curtain that passesover the fronts of the said stages and covers them, said curtains havingscenic displays thereon and having horizontally extended openings andmeans for actuating the curtains, a plurality of elevator-cages, one foreach set of stages, said elevator-cages having an nd entrance and havingone side open, means for sustaining each cage in front of its adjacentendless curtain, and moving it vertically over said curtain, said meansincluding devices for low ering one cage as the other is being raised,and an external body that covers the actuating parts, having therepresentation of a house provided with ingress-doors, located at thehighest point of movement of the cages and also having doors at thelowest point of movement of the cages, as set forth.

GUSTAV A. MILLER.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. ADAMS, S. S. HAwKs.

